2004 KIA SORENTO Structurebody Problems

THIS KIA WAS HOUSED AND STORED IN A GARAGE FOR MOST OF ITS LIFE AND DRIVEN ONLY IN THE SUMMER. IN THE WINTERS OF MICHIGAN IS WAS HOUSED IN A CLEAN DRY GARAGE. THIS KIA WAS A 2 OWNER CAR. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I HAD DRIVEN IT ONE WINTER AND THIS SUMMER TOOK IT TO GET AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT. ALIGNMENT CENTER COULD NOT DO THE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE WHOLE RIGHT DRIVERSIDE OF THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT BEYOND THEIR SAFTY STANDARDS. THE KIA WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT BECAUSE THE WHOLE FRAME ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS 80% RUSTED OUT AND THE LEFT SIDE WAS ALSO BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT OF THE RIGHT SIDE. THERE ARE FOOT LONG GAPING HOLES IN THE FRAME DUE TO THE RUSTING. IT IS IRREPARABLE. THERE IS NO SAFE SPOT TO WELD TO TO FIX IT EITHER....

WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE BRAKE LINES TOWARD THE REAR SUSPENSION RUSTED THROUGH. ALSO THE SUPPORT FOR THE REAREND RUSTED THROUGH MAKING THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE BRAKE LINES FROM FRONT TO BACK WERE CHANGED AND I AM LOOKING TO HAVE THE SUPPORT BRACKETS CHANGED.

OCT, 2016 - I AM THE ORIGNAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD MAINTAINED REGULAR MAINTAINENCE ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD JUST PUT $700 OF NEW TIRES ON VEHICLE AND HAD A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND FLUID CHECK BEFORE WE LEFT FOR OUR VACATION. I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE AND I STILL OWN. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RUN BUT I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE HEADED OUT OF TOWN FOR A WEEK, ABOUT 200 MILES INTO THE COMMUTE THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, WE WERE TRAVELING AT 55-60 MPH. AS I WAS EXITING THE 421 HIGHWAY FLAMES BEGAN COMING OUT FROM AROUND HOOD AND THE PAINT ON THE HOOD BEGAN TO BUBBLE UP DUE TO HEAT. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPT, AS I WAS DRIVING, PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND IMMEDIATELY REMOVED...

2004 KIA SORENTO EX WITH EXTENSIVE RUST DAMAGE TO REAR CROSS-MEMBERS #2 AND #3. DISCOVERED DURING TIRE ROTATION IN NOV 2018, BUT IS OBVIOUS THE DAMAGE HAS EXISTED FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME. CROSS-MEMBER #2 IS JUST IN FRONT AND ABOVE THE REAR AXLE AND HAS THE MOUNTING BRACKETS FOR THE AXLE STRUTS, WHICH KEEP THE AXLE IN PLACE, IT ALSO HAS A MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE FUEL TANK, AS WELL AS A PASS THROUGH BRACKET FOR THE REAR BRAKE LINES, AND A MUFFLER HANGER. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE IMMINENT DANGER OF A FULL FAILURE. CROSS-MEMBER #2 IS ABOUT 70% RUSTED THROUGH ON THE FUEL TANK SIDE AND PERFORATED IN SEVERAL OTHER PLACES AS WELL. CROSSMEMBER #3 WHICH IS BEHIND THE REAR AXLE CONTAINS NO MOUNTS, BUT A TORSION BAR DOES CONNECT WHERE THE CROSS-MEMBER PASSES THROUGH THE LEFT FRAME RAIL. STRUT...

WHOLE DRIVING DOWN ROAD STARTED TO LOOSE CONTROL. UPON BRINGING TO A SERVICE STATION FOUND OUT REAR FRAME OF VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY LEAVING SUSPENSION HANGING AND NOT DRIVABLE.

PURCHASED USED, WAS DRIVING TO GRANDSON'S BALL GAME, WHEN CAR STARTED MAKING FUNNY NOISE AND ACTED AS THE THE REAR END WAS GOING TO FALL OUT, WE PULLED OVER IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, GOT OUT AND LOOKED, COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING, HAD DAUGHTER FOLLOW US HOME, JUST IN CASE, TOOK IT TO FRIEND WHO NOTICED THE REAR BRACKET ARMS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT , LOOKS LIKE IT IS WHAT HOLDS THE REAR END IN PLACE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO, I PAID OVER $5000 USED AND I CAN'T JUST PARK IT, I THINK KIA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MISHAP, IT IS NOT LIKE IT CAN JUST BE FIXED, IT NEEDS REPLACED, SO I'M THINKING IT WOULD BE A MAJOR JOB, I'VE READ MANY MANY OTHER FORUMS AFTER FINDING THIS OUT ABOUT MINE AND RESEARCHING, I"M SURE THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A SERIOUS OR EVEN LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM,...

EXCESSIVE RUST TO THE FRAME. IT IS SO BAD NOW YOU CAN POKE HOLES IN THE FRAME WITH YOUR FINGER. IF IT IS THIS BAD NOW IT WAS ALREADY RUSTED BADLY AT OR BEFORE 10 YEARS OLD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE REAR FRAME THAT CONNECTED THE ROTARY BAR WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. UPDATED 03/07/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS FIXED UPDATED 6/20/18*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME HAD CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

A SECTION OF THE MAIN FRAME RAIL IS ROTTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, WHERE THE REAR SWAY CONTROL ARM WHICH ATTACHES TO THE REAR DRIVETRAIN. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS THE REAR DRIVETRAIN IS AT RISK OF DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE.

MY SON WAS DRIVING THIS CAR WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN A ROUNDABOUT IN TAUNTON MASS AND NEARLY CRASHED THIS VEHICLE DUE TO LOSING THE ABILITY OF STABILIZING IT, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD THANKFULLY BECAUSE OF THE SPEED OF TRAVEL AT THE TIME, THANKFULLY HE WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY OR I MAY BE TELLING A DIFFERENT STORY. UPON DRIVING VEHICLE HOME, MY HUSBAND LOOKED OVER VEHICLE TO SEE WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS AND NOTED FRAME NEAR RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD RUSTED TOTALLY THROUGH WHERE IT ATTACHES TO AN ARM OF SOME SORTS MAYBE A STABILIZING ARM(NOT SURE). WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE MARCH 2014-7 MONTHS AGO AND IT PASSED INSPECTION AT THE TIME, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD HAVE AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO CHECK THE FRAME AS LISTED ON INSPECTION REPORT AND...

I WENT TO GET MY OIL CHANGED ON/AROUND 9/5 AND THEY WOULDN'T CHANGE IT DUE TO SEVERE RUST DAMAGE THAT HAD RUSTED THROUGH THE OIL PAN, BRAKE LINE, AT LEAST ONE CRACK IN THE FRAME FROM RUST, AND THE TIRES ARE BARELY HELD ON TO THE CAR DUE TO RUST DAMAGE. NOW MY BRAKES DON'T WORK BUT I STILL HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I WENT TO 2 OTHER SHOPS AND NO ONE WILL WORK ON MY CAR DUE TO IT FALLING APART FROM RUST. I PURCHASE MY CAR AT ABC MOTOR CREDIT AUGUST OF 2013 AND RE-LOCATED TO FLORIDA BEFORE WINTER HIT. I CALLED THEM AND THEY REFERRED ME THEIR WARRANTY COMPANY, LISA WARRANTY GROUP. OF COURSE, RUST DAMAGE AND FRAME WORK IS NOT COVERED. ABC MOTOR CREDIT SOLD ME A CAR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOTALED, NOT RE-SOLD TO A CONSUMER FOR $12,000!! I HAVE TRIED 5 DIFFERENT...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN FRAME BROKE AND ALMOST CRASHED IT FOUND OUT FROM A BODY SHOP THAT THE FRAME HAD CORRODED AND BROKE AND WE OWE MONEY ON THIS PIECE OF JUNK AND THE KIA CORPORATION HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO RUSTING OF THE FRAME, WHICH DAMAGED THE BRAKE LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM HANGERS WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. ...UPDATED 12/03/13 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON 09/13/13

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BEING SERVICED BY A PERSONAL MECHANIC WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE CONTROL ARM TO THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 131,000.

ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED DATE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NTB FOR A 90,000 MILE CHECK AND TO REPLACE A BOLT THAT HAD BROKEN LOOSE IT WAS LOCATED NEAR THE REAR AXLE WHEN PUT UP ON THE LIFT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WAS REVEALED. THE FRAME ABOVE THE REAR AXLE HAD COMPLETELY ROTTED WHICH CAUSED THE BOLT TO BREAK AND THE RESULTING LOSS OF INTEGRITY CAUSED WEAKENING AND AND BOUNCING CAUSING THE GAS TANK TO BE PUNCTURED. THE CAR WAS DEEMED UNDRIVABLE. I HAVE WRITTEN TO KIA WITH NO RESPONSE THE CAR HAD BEEN RELIABLE AND WAS TAKEN CARE OF THIS PUT US IN A TOUGH FINANCIAL SITUATION HAVING TO BUY ANOTHER CAR IN OUR AREA ALONE THERE ARE TWO KIA,S THAT HAD ROTTING FRAMES ONE THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE AS OURS HIS HAD 106,000 MILES THE ROTTING WAS NOT NEAR AS BAD AS OURS BUT THE SAME BOLT...

MY SISTER PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT AND PROBLEMS WITH DEALERSHIP/KIA HONORING THEIR 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY. SHE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BELIEVING SHE WOULD BE DRIVING A QUALITY VEHICLE (ADVERTISING 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY SHE ASSUMED IT MUST BE OF HIGH QUALITY BECAUSE WHO WOULD OFFER THAT KIND OF WARRANTY IF IT WAS JUNK....WRONG!) SHE HAS HAD NOTHING BUT STRESS, FINANCIAL EXPENSE, LOST WORK TIME, AND A BATTLE OF HER LIFE TRYING TO SEEK CONSUMER JUSTICE...DEALERSHIP, KIA MOTORS, LEMON LAW REQUIRES A PART TO FAIL FOUR TIMES, ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE, CONCILIATION COURT, WRITING TO RUUKIVINA, OBERSTAR, AND MOST RECENTLY AMY KLOBUCHAR...ALL FAILED. NO ONE HAS SAID THAT THEY WILL INVESTIGATE KIA AND PROTECT THE CONSUMERS FROM THIS FRAUDULENT AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER. WHY? THE PROBLEMS SHE HAS HAD WITH HER VEHICLE CONSIST OF RUST ON THE TAILGATE AND REAR DOORS JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER...